Basic Energy Corp. has started construction of its Cadiz 1 Solar Power Plant in Negros Occidental, marking the company’s first utility-scale solar project to reach the construction stage as it expands its renewable energy portfolio.
The project, located in Barangay Luna, Cadiz City, has an installed capacity of 54.26 megawatts-peak (MWp), equivalent to 43.41 megawatts (MW) on an alternating-current basis. It is expected to supply renewable electricity to the Visayas grid.
The solar facility will cover more than 60 hectares and use about 84,784 photovoltaic modules. It will connect to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines through a substation approximately 5.4 kilometers from the project site.
Basic Energy’s wholly owned subsidiary, Basic Energy Cadiz 1 Corp., is developing the project. The Department of Energy issued the project a Certificate of Authority in March 2025, followed by the award of a Solar Energy Operating Contract. The project also secured a Certificate of Award under the fourth Green Energy Auction Program in January.
The company said the project site has already been secured and technical studies have been completed. TBEA has been selected as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the facility.
Cadiz 1 forms part of Basic Energy’s broader 187.23-MWp solar development pipeline covering four projects. The company is also developing 449.99 MW of wind capacity as it expands into a wider renewable-energy portfolio that includes solar, wind and geothermal power, as well as energy storage and electric-vehicle charging.
The company’s move into construction comes as the Philippines continues to add renewable generation capacity to meet rising electricity demand and diversify its power supply. The Visayas grid is also expected to benefit from additional renewable capacity as more projects move from development into construction and operation.
Basic Energy had previously targeted early 2027 for the commissioning of Cadiz 1, although the construction schedule and remaining project requirements will determine the plant’s actual commercial start.
The Cadiz project represents a significant step in Basic Energy’s shift toward renewable power development. As construction progresses, attention will turn to the plant’s completion timeline, grid connection and eventual contribution to electricity supply in the Visayas.
